5 common mistakes owners make when feeding their dog

It's hard to resist those big pleading eyes when it comes to feeding your dog, but what if your best intentions are all wrong?

To help you navigate the best nutrition habits for your furry friend, Animal Welfare League Veterinarian Dr Simone Maher has compiled the five top mistakes you could be making.

1. Feeding table scraps

Many unintentional mistakes are made at the humble dinner table. High-fat scraps can cause tummy upsets, cooked bones can get caught in the mouth or set like cement in the intestinal system and onions are highly toxic in large amounts. Plus it leads to behaviour that can become tiresome to you – in particular, begging at the table every meal time.

Getty

2. Thinking your dog needs constant variety

We probably get weary of feeding the same food to our pet before most dogs tire of eating it! Obviously there are always the finicky types, but generally as long as you're starting with simple, recognisable ingredients combined in the right proportions (Purina Beyond is a favourite), variety is not necessary.

It's important to remember, sudden and frequent diet changes can lead to tummy upsets as the gut’s microbiome is not used to the variation.

Getty

3. Giving in to those puppy dog eyes

Yes, they are hard to resist! But feeding snacks can lead to obesity and we risk giving foods that contribute nothing to our dog’s nutrition. A good rule of thumb is that treats should not make up any more than 10 per cent of a pet’s total daily diet.

Getty

4. Underestimating the importance of good nutrition on longevity and good health

We hear this message all the time for humans – and it’s the same for dogs. We all want to maximise our pets’ wellbeing – and the foundation for this is nutrition. A quality food with recognisable ingredients that has been developed to meet nutritional requirements, such as Purina Beyond, makes this easy. It’s one of the easiest and best ways to love your pet.

Getty

5. Bonding with your pet through food treats

A great suggestion is to offer your pet a non-food-related treat, like playing with their favourite toy. This can strengthen the bond between pet and human and also keep your pet fit and healthy.